NEW LARGE RESEARCH GROUP CLEA-CLPS
From 2024, the VUB research centres CLEA and CLPS (the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science) have been integrated into a large research group, called CLEA. Prof. Karen François is appointed head of the group (director), Prof. Francis Heylighen is the contact person for research (research director). You can consult the new directors team here. For the time being, both CLEA and CLEA-CLPS will continue to communicate through their existing websites and communication channels.
DEEP INTERDISCIPLINARITY
The Centre Leo Apostel (CLEA) is a transdisciplinary, interfaculty research centre at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). CLEA’s mission is to bridge the different scientific, social and cultural disciplines. It was founded in 1995 under the impulse of the Belgian philosopher Leo Apostel (1925-1995). He formulated the goal of CLEA as the integration of the different disciplines into a coherent worldview, so as to counteract the current fragmentation into ever more specialized approaches. Next to worldviews, our research addresses fundamental interdisciplinary issues, including complexity, systems, evolution, quantum entanglement, cognition, artscience and well-being.
We call our research philosophy "thinking beyond boundaries". Thanks to this philosophy, CLEA has attracted and trained a large number of talented researchers from the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences and engineering, representing countries from across the globe. CLEA is now internationally recognized as a unique, transdisciplinary research centre with a steady output of high-level, innovative publications.
Next to our research, we offer diverse educational programs and activities, including an interdisciplinary PhD, the School of Thinking postgraduate, courses, and public seminars and lecture series.
Upcoming events
Practical info-CLEA SEMINAR & IMAGINARY INSTITUTE. Intelligence At Play: AI, Imagination & Human Futures - by Derek Lomas - Part of the "AI & Values" Series
The next CLEA AI and Values seminar on Friday, April 25, takes place within the context of the third Imaginary Institute symposium. The Friday seminar programme consists of four parts. Derek Lomas will present a seminar (IRL and online) offering a fresh philosophical compass for navigating the emerging age of Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). This will be followed by two AI workshops on generative play and future visions at the CLEA House, also led by Lomas, and an evening hang-out.
Practical info-Imaginary Institute Symposium - 25 and 26 April, Brussels
We invite you to the next two-day symposium to collectively imagine the Imaginary Institute, a new initiative by the CLEA ArtScience group. Click the title to learn more!
Practical info-Complex Anarchism Symposium, 19-23 May 2025 in Brussels
With the upcoming Complex Anarchism symposium, we will be exploring the intersection between anarchism and complexity science. Anarchy, despite its popular definition as a state of disorder, is rather a mode of being where we organize ourselves voluntarily, that is, without coercion from a central controller or hierarchical system. During the symposium, we aim to apply and explore the interplay between these practices and concepts in order to experiment with alternative ways to organize our society.
News
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Wanted: Scientists, Artists and Philosophers to help create an Imaginary Institute
To all scientists, artists, philosophers, and anyone whose work involves bringing new ideas, ways of thinking, and co-inhabiting into the world: From January to July 2025, we will run a pilot series of monthly 2-day symposia in Brussels to collectively imagine the Imaginary Institute together.
